Piano-action.



PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903.

F. J. GRANZOW.

PIANO ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

N0 MODEL.

PATENTBD DEC. 15, 1903.

F. J. GRANZOW. PIANO ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented December 15, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK J. GRANZOW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE P; BENT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

.PlANO-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 746,823, dated December 1903- Application filed June 6, 1903. Serial No. 160.287. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK J. GRANZOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Piano-Actions, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention, relates to piano-actions for pianos and similar instruments.

The object of the invention is to prevent or avoid lost motion in the action when the soft pedal of the piano is applied or under similar circumstances.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a piano-key and action therefor embodying my present invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same-that is, an elevation looking from front to rear of the piano. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the action without the key. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of another portion of the action. Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 of a modified construction. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are modified forms of one part ofthe action. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of certain details of construction.

In the drawings I have shown a key 1, pivoted on a pin 2, supported on a keyboard 3 in any usual manner. I have also shown an action of the usual construction operated by the key 1. This action consists of the action extension 4, a whippen 5, pivotally connected to the upper end of the extension 4, a jack 6, pivotally connected to the whippen 5, anda back-check 7, secured rigidly to the whippen 5. The whippen 5 is pivotally supported by a rail 8, which runs across the width of the piano-frame in the rear of the actions, being supported at intervals by suitable supports or frames 9 9. A hammer-shank 10, carrying the hammer 11, is also pivotally supported by the rail 8. The hammer-shank 10 carries a projection 12,against which the backcheck is arranged to strike. The hammer 11 is arranged to strike a wire or string 13. The damper 14 is arranged against the string 13 and is carried by a lever 15, pivotally supported on the rail 8. The whippen 5 is prometallic frames 9 9. .is rigidly secured to the upper rail 8 by a pro .jecting pin or finger 20. The hammer-rail 21 is arranged in front of the ham mer-shank 10. This hammer-rail 21 extends across the width of the piano, so as to come in front of vided with a finger 16,arranged to act against the lower end of the shank 15.

nected at its other end to a second rail or rod 18, which extends across the width of the piano-frame and is supported by the upright An adjustable stop 19 the series of hammer-shanks for the different keys. It is pivotally supported for swinging movement by arms 22 22, arranged at intervals along its length and pivotally supported by the frame-pieces 9 9. This hammer-rail is suitably connected with the soft pedal of the piano, so that when the soft pedal is operated the rail will be swung rearwardly, so as to move the hammers 11 11, with their shanks 10 10, toward theirstrings 13 13, this being the well-known operation of the soft pedal. Thisis shown in dot-ted lines in Fig. 1. Heretofore there has been the diliiculty that this action of the hammer-rail, moving the hammers as it does, has been the cause of lost motion when the keys are operated. In the arrangement which I herein show for preventing this lost motion a link or rod 22 is pivotally connected to and extended downwardly from the hammer-rail 21, the upper end of this link or rod being conveniently fitted in the lower end of a clip 23, which is pivotally connected with a plate 24, secured to the lower side of the hammer-rail 21. This link 22 is extended down underneath a crossrod 23 and connected therewith by a pin 24, secured to said rod 23. The latter extends across the width of the piano, so as to come in the rear of the series of action extensions 4 4. This rod 23 is supported for swinging motion by arms 25 25, arranged at intervals and pivotally connected with the upright frames 9 9, as well shown in Fig. 3. A lever 26 is extended across and above the rod 23*, so that its rear end rests upon the same, and is pivotally connected at 27 with a lateral extension or projection 28, formed on or secured to the action extension 4. The forward end of the lever 26 is extended below the lower end of the extension 4 and fits between the same and the pilot 29, carried by the rear end of the key 1. By such arrangement it will be seen that when the hammer-rail 21 is swung upwardly to move the hammers over, as shown by the dotted lines in the upper part of Fig. 1, the link 22 will lift the rod 23, thereby elevating the rear end of the lever 26 and lifting slightly the extension 4, the lever 26 rising about the pilot 29 as a pivot. The elevated positions of these parts are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the extension is thus elevated, the jack 6 rises with its upper end against the lower end of the hammer-shank l0 and the other parts of the action are in proper position. Thusa blow upon the key when the parts are in this position causes the lever 26 to immediately swing the hammer-shank 10 and cause the hammer ll to strike the string 13. As a result there is no lost motion whatever when the soft pedal is applied, the key-actions being moved or adjusted to accord with the movement or adjustment of the hammers when the hammer-rail is actuated by the application of the soft pedal.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 I have shown modified forms of the lever which elevates the action when the hammer-rail is actuated. In Fig. 6 the lever 26" is shown bent downwardly at its rear end to accommodate a different length of extension. In Fig. 7 I have shown a lever 26 and in Fig. 8 a lever 26, both of which are bent laterally to bring the rear end of. the lever which rests upon the bar 23 a little to one side of the extension 4 to permit easy access to and adjustment of the end of the lever to said bar or rod 23. In the lever 26 of Fig. 7 this adjustment is secured by a screw 30 and in the lever 26 of Fig. 8 by a pallet 31. at the lower end of a screw 32.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a reversal of the arrangement of Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the rod 23 in this arrangement of Fig.5 being in front of the key-action instead of in the rear of the same and the other parts being reversed and arranged accordingly.

It will be understood that the arrangements herein set forth are merely illustrative of one manner of carrying out my invention. Other arrangements can be employed and will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the exact construction or arrangement herein set forth.

What I claim is 1. In a piano-action, the combination of an action extension having a lateral projection extending to one side of the extension and below the end thereof, and a transversely-extending lever pivoted to said projection so that the pivotal point is at one side of the extension and below the end thereof, said lever being extended under the end of the action extension, substantially as described.

2. In a piano-action, the combination of an action extension having a lateral projection extending to one side of the extension and below the end thereof, a transversely-extending lever pivoted to said projection so that the pivotal point is at one side of the extension and below the end thereof said lever being extended under the end of the action extension, and an adjusting-screw passing through the end of the lever opposite the end which is under the action extension, substantially as described.

3. In apiano-action, the combination of an action extension having a lateral projection extending to one side of the extension and below the end thereof, a transversely-extending lever pivoted to said projection so that the pivotal pointis at one side of the extension and below the end thereof, said lever being extended under the end of the action extension, a capstan-screw whose head is below that end of said lever which is under the end of the action extension, a rod below the other end of said lever, an adjustable hammer-rail, and

connections between said rod and rail for elevating the former when the latter is actuated, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the hammer and hammer-rail, of an action embodying an action extension which latter is provided with a lateral projection, a lever pivoted to said lateral projection whereby the pivotal point is at one side of said extension,said lever having its forward end arranged under the lower end of the extension, a bar or rod arranged below the rearend of said lever,pivotally-supported arms carrying said bar or rod, a link extended between the hammer-rail and said bar or rod, and a key arranged to act upon the forward end of said lever, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the hammer-rail, of an action extension having its lower end provided with a lateral projection, a pivoted lever pivoted to said projection at one side of said extension,a bar or rod arranged below one end of said lever, and a connection between the ham mer-rail and said baror rod, whereby the adjustment of the latter adjusts said lever and thereby the action extension, substantially as described.

6. The combination of an action extension havings its lower end provided witha lateral projection, and a transversely-extending lever pivotally connected to said projection, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 4th day of June, A. D. 1903.

FRANK J. GRANZOW.

Witnesses:

A. MILLER BELFIELD, I. 0. LEE.

TIC 

